Adjustable die



L. O. RAMSEY ADJUSTABLE DIE Jan. 1, 1963 3 Shaw -Sheet l Filed 061.. 9, 1958 ll? II FIG. I.

FIG. 3.

FIG.2.

INVENTOR Lawrence 0. Ramsey Y g flm ATTORNEYS L. o. RAMSEY ADJUSTABLE DIE Jan. 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 'Oct 9, 1958 INVENTOR Lawrence 0. Ramsey BY Z r 7 ATTORNEYS 3,971,093 ADEUSTABLE DEE Ramsey, 1975i) Cranbrook Drive,

Detroit 21, Mich. Filed (Bet. 9, 1958, Ser. No. 766,289 15 Claims. or. 113-42) Lawrence 0.

as drawing, trimming, flanging, blanking, and hole punching operations, and is especially adapted for drawing and trimming operations, and is described in connection therewith, although it is apparent that the basic principles of the invention may be employed in connection with similar operations.

It is well recognized in the art that the construction of draw dies, for example, is a very expensive and timeconsuming operation. This is a particular problem wherein only small production runs are to be made, thereby causing the costs of the dies to be prohibitive. In ordinary practice, it is necessary to construct individual dies for various sized objects even though the configuration of the objects may be identical with one another.

The present invention provides an arrangement wherein the upper and lower pressure pads of the die are each formed of a plurality of adjustable sections. These pressure pads are supported from the conventional upper die holder and upon the pressure pins of a press. The sections of the upper pressure pad are movably supported by the upper die holder and the sections of the lower pressure pad are supported on the resiliently mounted pressure pins. Various sized sections may be employed in accordance with the desired finished size of the article to be formed thereby permitting the formation of numerous sized dies in a very simple and expeditious manner.

A plurality of face plates are adjustably supported on each of the pressure pads and may be moved inwardly and outwardly for obtaining the final decimal size of openings desired. With this construction, very accurate die members may the formed from the various sections and face plates considerably reducing the costs of thefdies and the time involved in constructing and settingup the dies. An additional advantage of this construction is the great versatility thereof since with only minor modifications the apparatus may be employed for drawing,

, trimming, and similar operations.

The various sections which comprise the upper and lower pressure pads are keyed and bolted to one another to provide a very rigid construction comparable to that of prior art pressure pads, and in order to insure accurate and properly controlled movement of the lower pressure pad, guide means are provided for guiding the vertical movement of the lower pressure pad. In addition, co-operating guide and limit stop means are provided between the lower die shoe of the apparatus and the upper die holder for controlling vertical movement of the upper die holder. In this manner very accurate and reliable results are obtained during operation of the device.

An additional feature of the invention is the provision of a removable draw bead formed between the opposed upper and lower face plates. An insert is provided in one set of the face plates, and a projecting strip is disposed within a T-slot in the other set of face plates for cooperation with a depression provided in the insert thereby providing an effective draw bead which maybe inserted or removed at will.

An object of the present invention is the provision of TLWLQQS Patented Jan. 1, 1&63

ice

an adjustable die, the construction of which permits various sized dies to be set up in a simple and expeditious manner.

Another object is to provide an adjustable die especially suited for use in small production runs wherein the cost of conventional dies is excessive.

A further object is the provision of an adjustable die which is very versatile and which may be employed in drawing, trimming, and similar operations.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable die incorporating a removable draw bead.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable die which is simple and inexpensive, yet rugged and compact in construction and which is reliable and eflicient in operation.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the accompanying specification and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an adjustable die according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the upper pressure pad according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the plurality of end sections which may be employed in the invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the removable draw bead according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a moditication of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a draw die is shown in FIGS. 1-7 in connection with a conventional power press, a plurality of press frame members 10 and 11 supporting a press bolster plate 12 having six spaced openings 13 formed therethrough.

A die shoe member 15 is supported on the upper surface of such bolster plate 12 and has six. spaced openings sure is applied to the upper surface thereof.

Die shoe 15 has a pair of upwardly extending guide pins mounted at diagonally opposite corners thereof, and extending upwardly a substantial distance thereabove, die shoe 15 being substantially rectangular in configuration. Three spaced T-slots 2.6 are formed in the upper surface 27 of the die shoe'and extend longitudinally throughout the length of the die shoe. An elongated support member 28 is provided with an upper laterally extending flange 29 and a lower laterally extending flange 30. A plurality of T-headed bolts 31 have enlarged head portions thereof disposed in the two outer slots 26 and project upwardly through the suitable openings 32 provided through lower flange 39 of the support member. Nuts 33 are secured to the upper end portions of bolts 31 for securely locking support member 28 in position on the die shoe member. A plug or forming member 35 is secured to the upper surface of support member 28 r 3 by means of bolts 36 which extend through suitable openings provided in upper flange 29 of the support member and are threaded into correspondingly threaded openings provided in the forming member.

The upper die holder member 40 is adapted to be suitably secured to the ram member of the press and is provided with a pair of diagonally opposite bushings 41 adapted to receive the upper ends of guide pins 25 for controlling and limiting the vertical movement of upper die holder 40. Member 40 is provided with a plurality of T-shaped slots 42 in the lower surface 43 thereof, the slots extending throughout the longitudinal length of the upper die holder.

Referring now to FIG. of the drawings, an upper pressure pad according to the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 45. The upper pressure pad comprises a plurality of side sections 46 with end sections 47 disposed at the opposite ends thereof. Each of side sections 46 has a substantially U- shaped construction, the outer facing portion of the sections being open and the inner portions comprising a closed wall having a longitudinally extending slot 48 formed in the inner surface thereof. Side sections 46 are suitably keyed to one another adjacent facing surfaces of the sections being provided with a tongue 49 and a groove 50 respectively for keying the members together.

Each of side sections 46 is provided with a pair of spaced laterally extending slots 55 formed through the upper wall thereof and a pair of spaced laterally extending slots 56 formed through the lower wall thereof. Grooves 57 are formed in the upper surface of each of side sections 46 and are disposed in surrounding relationship to slots 55 for a purpose hereinafter more fully described.

End sections 47 are each provided with laterally extending tongues 60 which are received within grooves 48 formed in the inner surfaces of the side sections for keying the end sections to the side sections. In addition, as seen most clearly in FIG. 1, the inner walls of the end sections are provided with a plurality of openings 61 and the lateral walls of end sections 47 are pro vided with openings adapted to be aligned with openings 61 whereby the end sections may be bolted to the side sections at the ends thereof by means of nut and bolt assemblies indicated generally by reference numeral 62. End sections 47 are hollow and have a substantially square cross-section, the opposite ends of the sections being open, a slot 63 being formed through the lower wall of each of the sketches, and a slot 64 being formed through the upper wall of each of the end sections.

It is evident from the foregoing description that the upper pressure pad 45 is composed of a plurality of sections which are keyed and bolted to one another to provide a relatively rigid structure which has a strength comparable to unitary pressure pads. It is apparent that the size of the assembled pressure pad can be quickly and easily adjusted by employing different sized sections which may be keyed to one another and bolted as previously described. By providing a number of similar sections of different sizes, many different sized pressure pads may be quickly and easily assembled.

As seen in FIG. 6, the ends of the pressure pad may be expanded by employing two end sections 47 as shown in FIG. 5 and interposed therebetween another end section 70 of hollow square construction and having longitudinally extending grooves 71 formed in the lateral surfaces thereof for receiving the tongue portions 60 of the adjacent end sections for keying each of the end sections to one another. It is apparent that the assembled end portion as shown in FIG. 6 is substantially wider than the end portion as shown in FIG. 5, and of course, the end section as shown in FIG. 6 may be keyed and bolted to suitable side sections when assembling the finished pressure pad.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the upper pressure pad is shown in operative position secured to the lower surface of the upper die holder 40. A T-headed bolt 75 is inserted through each of slots 55 in the upper walls of the side sections and a nut 75 is secured to the lower threaded end of the bolts for securing the sections in position relative to the upper die holder. The purpose of grooves 57 can be more clearly understood by reference to this figure wherein it is apparent that the elongated T-head of each of bolts 75 may be inserted through slots 55, turned 90 degrees within grooves 57, then passed through the lower portion of slots 42 into the upper portion thereof, and subsequently rotated into the proper locked position within the T-slots. It is evident that depending upon the desired size of the pressure pad, the sections of the pressure pad may be mounted in many different positions upon the upper die holder due to the provision of many T-slots 42 in the die holder in addition to the laterally extending slots 55 provided in the side section members.

End sections 47 also are secured to the upper die holder by means of suitable T-headed bolt and nut assemblies similar to assemblies 75 and 76 and extending through the slot 64 provided in the upper walls of the end sections. In this manner, the upper pressure pad is rigidly secured to the upper die holder for vertical movement therewith.

Secured to the lower surface of each of the individual sections of the upper pressure pad is a face plate 8b of substantially the same longitudinal and lateral dimensions as the associated sections. The facing pads are formed of a suitable material in accordance with the material being formed, and may be, for example, of plastic, cast iron, or tool steel as the case may be. The inner lower edges of each of the individual face plates 8d are provided with .a rounded surface 8 1 in the disclosed embodiment in order to provide a curved bend in the drawn material. Each of face plates 80 is secured to the associated section by means of bolts 82 extending downwardly through the slots in the section and into correspondingly threaded openings formed in the face plates. While the general dimensions of the die may be adjusted by employing various sized sections and securing them in the desired position on the upper die holder, the final decimal size of the central opening in the die may be determined by adjusting the face plates 80* inwardly or outwardly. In this manner very fine adjustment of the size of the die opening can be obtained in a very simple and efficient manner.

A lower pressure pad indicated generally by reference numeral 85 comprises a plurality of side sections 86 having end sections disposed at opposite ends thereof. The lower pressure pad is quite similar in construction to the upper pressure pad, the end and side sections being similar in number and size and being connected by means of keys and bolts to one another in a similar manner. The difference in construction between the individual sections of the lower pressure pad and the upper pressure pad lies in the slot construction thereof. No slots are provided through the lower walls of the sections 86 of the lower pressure pad, but a pair of slots is provided through the upper walls of each of sections 86 similar to the slots provided through the upper walls in the corresponding sections of the upper pressure pad. In addition, there are no grooves formed in the lower side sections corresponding to the grooves 57 formed in the upper side sections. The lower surfaces of side sections 86 are supported upon the pressure pins 20 thereby providing a resilient support for the lower pressure pad.

Mounted upon the upper surfaces of the sections of the lower pressure pad are face plates 90 having substantially the same longitudinal and lateral dimensions as the associated sections and being adjustably supported upon the associated sections by bolts 91 extending through the slots 92 in the upper walls of the sections and threadedly engaged in correspondingly threaded openings provided in the face plates 90. It is evident that the inner dimensions of face plates 90 may be carefully adjusted by means of bolts 91, and normally the inner surfaces of sections ht will be disposed in engagement with the outer lateral surface of forming member 35.

it is apparent from an inspection of PEG. 4 that the inner dimensions of the central opening defined by face plates 94} is less than that of the central opening defined within face plates 80, and that a space is provided be tween the outer lateral surface of forming member and the adjacent lateral surfaces of upper face plate 8d and the associated upper sections.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a guide member 1% is secured by means of bolts M1 to the outer surfaces of each of the end sections 4-7, guide members Hid extending in a vertical direction and having a laterally projecting three-sided portion 392 received within a corresponding three-sided recess 1% provided in an associated guide member 1434. Each of guide members 194 includes two side walls 165 and a bottom wall ms in cluding a raised central portion 1G7. A pair of T-bolts 1-08 have the heads thereof disposed Within the central T-slot 26 formed in the die shoe member and extend upwardly through a pair of openings provided in the lower wall 106 and the raised portion 167 of each of the guide members 164. Nuts 1% are secured to the upper ends of each of bolts 1hr; for locking guide members 104- in operative position. Guide members 1th) and 104 c-o-operate with one another to positively guide the vertical movement of the lower pressure pad and it is apparent that guide members 304 may be adjustably secured to the die shoe in various positions in accordance with the size of the die shoe.

In operation, the ram of the press is initially raised such that the upper die holder and upper pressure pad are spaced above the upper surface of forming member 35. A fiat sheet of material designated 11% in the drawings is then placed upon the upper surface of forming member 35, and the ram is actuated in a downward direction whereupon the upper die defined by the upper pressure pad and the upper face Plates will draw the member lllti over the forming member 35 into the finished configuration as seen in FIG. 4. Downward movement of the ram may also cause the lower pressure pad to be urged downwardly against the cushion plate 22 through the intermediary of pressure pins 20. The inter-cooperation of guide members 1% and iii-i will insure that the lower pressure pad follows the proper vertical path, and guide pins 25 will additionally insure that the upper die holder is properly positioned with respect to the die shoe and that the relative movement therebetween is positively limited.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a removable draw bead is shown incorporated between the face plates of the apparatus. The lower face plates 90 are provided with an insert 111 having a depression 111 formed in the upper surface thereof. Face plates 84 are provided with T- slots 112 within which is disposed a strip of resilient material 113 such as stainless steel or the like having a substantially U-shaped configuration with laterally extending portions formed at the end of the legs thereof. It is apparent that strips 113 may be inserted or removed from T-shaped slot 112 in order to provide the draw bead action or eliminate it, as desired.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a modification is shown wherein the die is particularly adapted to perform a trimming operation on a member 110 having the configuration as formed by the draw bead previously described. The upper die holder and associated pressure pad as well as the lower pressure pad are identical with those shown in FIG. 4 and have been given the same references numerals primed. In this modification, however, the lower pressure pad is not supported upon pins 29, but rests firmly upon the upper surface of die shoe 15. Support member 28 of the modification shown in PEG. 8 is similar to that shown in FIG. 4, and a plate 115' is mounted upon the upper surface thereof by means of bolts 36 extending through suitable openings in flange 29 of the support member and into suitably threaded openings in plate 115. A central member 116 is in turn secured upon plate 115 by means of bolts 117 extending through openings provided in member 115 and 116 and threaded into correspondingly threaded openings in the support member.

The face plates employed in the modification of FIG. 8 have been altered in order to perform a. trimming operation. Upper face plates 120 which are adjustably supported upon the upper sections of the upper pressure and are provided with downwardly extending portions 121 having a cutting edge 122 formed on the inner lower surface thereof. Lower face plates 125 mounted upon the lower sections of the lower pressure pad are provided with a cutting edge 126 formed on the upper outer edge thereof for co-operating with cutting edge 122 to shear off or trim the outer edges of formed member 110. It is apparent that face plates 12% and 125 may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly to provide the desired degree of trimming of the formed article.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that there is provided a new and novel adjustable die suitable for use in drawing, trimming, or similar operations. The die may be adjusted to various sizes in a simple and expeditious manner, and is particularly suitable for use in small production runs wherein the cost of conventional dies would be excessive. A removable draw head is provided between the opposing face plates of the apparatus Whereby the face plates may be employed either with the draw bead or without the draw bead as desired. The construction according to the present invention is quite simple and inexpensive, yet rugged and compact, and is reliable and efficient in operation.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly co-operative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims;

I claim:

1. An adjustable die which comprises a first pressure means, a second pressure means disposed in opposed facing relationship to said first pressure means, each of said pressure means defining a central opening, means for adjusting each of said pressure mean to vary the size of the respective central opening, a plurality of first face plates adjustably supported by said first pressure means, a second plurality of face plates adjustably secured to said second pressure means, said first and second face plates being disposed in opposed facing relationship to one another, said first plurality of face plate and said second plurality of face plates each defining a central opening, said face plates being movable with respect to the associated pressure means for varying the size of the said central openings defined thereby.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for resiliently supporting said second pressure means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including forming means supported within the openings defined by said face plates.

4. An adjustable die comprising an upper pressure pad, a lower pressure pad, each of said pressure pads defining a central opening, means for adjusting each of said pressure pads to vary the size of the respective central opening, a plurality of face plates adjustably supported by said upper pressure pad, a plurality of face plates adjustably supported by said lower pressure pad in opposed facing relationship to said first plurality of face plates,

said face plates supported by said upper pressure pad defining a first opening, said face plates supported by said lower pressure pad defining a second opening, a forming member supported within and projecting upwardly through said first opening and spaced from said upper pressure pad, and means resiliently supporting said lower pressure pad.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 including guide means for guiding the vertical movement of said lower pressure pad.

6. An adjustable die comprising an upper die holder, a plurality of upper sections defining an upper pressure pad, each of said upper sections adjustably secured to said upper die holder, a plurality of upper face plates adjustably supported by said upper sections, said upper face plates defining a central opening, a plurality of lower sections defining a lower pressure pad, means resiliently supporting said lower pressure pad, a plurality of lower face plates adjustably supported by said lower sections, said lower face plates defining a central opening, said lower sections also defining a central opening, a support member disposed within said last-mentioned opening, and a forming member supported on said support memher and extending upwardly within the opening defined by said upper face plates and spaced therefrom.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein each of the sections of said upper pressure pad are keyed to one another, and each of said sections of the lower pressure pad are keyed to one another.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 including a die shoe member, said support member being secured to said die shoe member, guide pins supported by said die shoe member, and guide means secured to said upper die holder for engaging said guide pins and controlling the vertical movement of said upper die holder.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 including draw bead means formed between said upper and lower face plates for controlling the drawing action of a piece of material to be formed.

10. An adjustable die comprising an upper die holder adapted to be secured to the ram of a press, said upper die holder having a plurality of T-slots formed therein, a plurality of upper sections including side sections and ends sections, said side sections having upper portions with slots formed itherethrough, T-headed bolts mounted Within the T-slots in said upper holder and extending through the slots in said side upper sections and secured in place by nut means, said end upper sections being keyed to said side upper sections, said upper sections having slots formed in lower portions thereof, upper face plates supported from said upper sections by bolt means extending through last-mentioned slots, a plurality of lower sections having slots formed in the upper portions thereof, a plurality of lower face plates supported on said lower sections bolt means extending through said lastmentioned slots, a die shoe adapted to be supported by a press bolster plate, a plurality of openings formed through said die shoe, a plurality of resiliently supported pressure pins slidably disposed within the openings within said die shoe and supporting said lower sections, said lower sections including side sections and end sections keyed to one another, a support member secured to said die shoe, a forming member supported on said support member and disposed centrally with respect to said face plates and sections, and spaced fromsaid upper face plates and said upper sections for co-operation therewith to draw a member therebetween.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 including a pair of first spaced guide members secured to said die shoe, a pair of second spaced guide members secured to end sections of the lower sections, each of said first pair of guide members engaging one of said second pair of guide members for controlling the vertical movement of said lower sections.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 including a plurality of guide pins secured to said die shoe and extending upwardly therefrom, said upper die holder having bushings for engaging said guide pins and controlling the vertical movement of said upper die holder.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 including draw bead means formed between said upper and lower face plates for controlling the drawing of a formed member.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second plurality of face plates have cutting edges formed thereon and disposed in cooperating relationship with one another to trim a member therebetween.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, including a member supported centrally within said second plurality of face plates for engaging a trimmed member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 958,459 Ames May 17, 1910 996,601 Ames July 4, 1911 1,825,067 Johnson Sept. 29, 1931 1,915,531 Irmis June 27, 1933 2,120,094 Graf June 7, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 135,268 Australia Nov. 14, 1949 862,424 France Dec. 9, 1940 412,260 Germany Apr. 17, 1925 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE DIE WHICH COMPRISES A FIRST PRESSURE MEANS, A SECOND PRESSURE MEANS DISPOSED IN OPPOSED FACING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FIRST PRESSURE MEANS, EACH OF SAID PRESSURE MEANS DEFINING A CENTRAL OPENING, MEANS FOR ADJUSTING EACH OF SAID PRESSURE MEANS TO VARY THE SIZE OF THE RESPECTIVE CENTRAL OPENING, A PLURALITY OF FIRST FACE PLATES ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID FIRST PRESSURE MEANS, A SECOND PLURALITY OF FACE PLATES ADJUSTABLY SECURED TO SAID SECOND PRESSURE MEANS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND FACE PLATES BEING DISPOSED IN OPPOSED FACING RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID FIRST PLURALITY OF FACE PLATES AND SAID SECOND PLURALITY OF FACE PLATES EACH DEFINING A CENTRAL OPENING, SAID FACE PLATES BEING MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESSURE MEANS FOR VARYING THE SIZE OF THE SAID CENTRAL OPENINGS DEFINED THEREBY. 